Party 7

Scattershot and hyperactive in a way only Japanese cinema can get away with, Party 7 is an enjoyable frantic mess. After a speedy animated introduction to 7 different characters, we are suddenly thrust into a narrative about some stolen money. As the man hides in a hotel room, he has no idea he is being watched by some professional peepers (one dressed in super-hero garb and calling himself Captain Banana). As people come looking for the money, the hotel room gets crowded, and twists are revealed. It's very claustrophobic, being set in just two rooms, which is painfully awkward given the over-the-top style. The humour is broad and weird. Funny and fun, even though I was disappointed that the image on the DVD case is nowhere to be found in the film :(

This gets compared to "Shark Skin Man and Peach Hip Girl" which is Director Katsuhito Ishii's previous film but it shouldn't.

This had an interesting story and a few good laughs which makes this watchable. The problem is some scenes go on way too long. Most of the scenes in this film are really just conversations. Each a piece of the plotline usually with a gag attached. But they can go on to where I start to lose interest.

The cast is good. No one stands out. It's the direction and how everything & everyone fits together along the way. That's what makes this movie good and interesting.

The poster for this film is misleading to those unfamiliar. The girl never is dressed so skimpy. This is not a Pinku Eiga.

There is animation during the opening credits and while the rest of this movie is good, the animation that played is excellent.

The reason I pulled this DVD out today was I needed something with creative filmmaking. It is not really original but still creative.

This is the funniest film I have ever seen. I will say no more, really- preposterous, brilliant, and hilarious. Great work.

The actors dive into the script head first, with absolutely no let up, ever, turning in the best ensemble comedy work I have seen in years. Laugh out loud excellence, Captain Banana is worth the price of admission.

Craig

It's a wild mad ride. Lots of accusations. Lots of character development. Lots of dishonesty. Lots of coming-to-terms and the truth prevails!

It's got Captain Banana! A peeping juvenile in love with the lead actress! Yakuza! Orphanaged degenerates!

I really loved the slapstick humour; the fast edit and quick zoom and shaky camera (Fukasaku signature closeups) and great angles! The cinematography is divine. It's an extremely quirky and fun movie and not to be taken seriously.

It's just very enjoyable and completely removed from mainstream cinema. I really enjoyed its beauty in the form of adolescent voyerism. How humans just love engrossing in others through staring. It's just quite beautiful yet deemed vulgar in society.

Then it all culminators in a big room fight. It's a really great movie which one shouldn't take too seriously. Loads of great camera angles. Superb directing and acting and cool costumes! I really enjoyed it. It's just a fun low-budget movie from the J-video era and is more polished than most.

Expect low ratings with a subject of this matter like any Japanese quirky b movie. Enjoy the wild ride of J pulp cinema. Watch without predejuice. With an adolescent teenage mind. Let the fun begin! For fans of Sion Sono and Takashi Miike.

When it comes to boundary-pushing off the wall cinema, Japan is the world's undisputed leader. Party 7 is one of the most bizarre, creative and hilarious films I've seen in a very long time. Set almost entirely in a hotel room with adjoining peep-suite, the film thrusts together an ensemble of quirky characters and feeds them a non-stop supply of bizarre, perverse and highly amusing dialogue. The plot is almost non-existent, yet manages to be clever and surprising, and the delivery is perfect. You haven't seen anything like it, and you're either going to love it or hate it... it's as simple as that.

Me, I loved every little bit of it!

(And yes, Sharkskin Man and Peach Hip Girl is a great film as well)